GLOBALTEK® Hot Air Heat Tunnel For Heat-Shrink Sleeves & Neck Bands

The GLOBALTEK® stainless steel construction heat tunnel is manufactured to meet highest standards for the pharmaceutical, food/beverage and many more industries. Our heat tunnel is precisely designed to ‘heat shrink’ shrinkable film wrapped around your package and it is also suitable to shrink a shrinkable neck band or body sleeve around a container. 

Bottles must be transported through the heat tunnel with a compatible conveyor (not included) at a consistent and applicable speed. Our heat tunnel includes four Hapco Bak hot air blowers with 360° wide slot adjustable nozzles to ensure the perfect fit for your products' height and depth needs. The stainless steel double wall heating chamber is enclosed by tight-seal brush bristles and a silicone coated fiberglass heat trapping curtain to ensure an even and consistent shrink rate. The double wall ensures the exterior surface area does not overheat.

SPECIFICATIONS: 

• Four Hapco Bak hot air blowers (230V, 3700W) with 360° wide slot adjustable nozzles to ensure the perfect fit for your products’ height and depth needs.
• Variable temperature and air-flow settings.
• Suitable for shrinkage of sleeve labels made of different materials and thickness (from 35 to 60 microns).
•  Suitable for containers up to 10” diameter x 19” tall.
• Mounts to any existing conveyor with a stainless steel belt or high temperature belt. *Conveyor not included.
• Electrical Requirement: 230V single phase 60 Hz
• Overall machine dimensions: 36” x 26” x 22”

***Conveyor not included***

(if needed, please let us know your desired length and width as we have many sizes available in stock)

Benefits of a Heat Shrink Tunnel

• Consistent, 360° shrink: Adjustable hot-air nozzles apply uniform heat for smooth sleeves and bands.

• Clean appearance & tamper evidence: Tight, wrinkle-free results improve shelf presence and provide visible product security.

• Wide material compatibility: Handles common sleeve films (e.g., PETG, PVC, OPS) across multiple gauges.

• Fast changeovers: Tool-less nozzle adjustments and recipe presets reduce downtime between SKUs.

• Compact integration: Mounts over existing conveyors to fit new or retrofit packaging lines.

How to Choose Film Gauge and Speed Settings

Film gauge (typical ranges):

• Neck bands: 35–45 µm (lower gauge conforms quickly, minimizes material use).

• Body sleeves (straight walls): 40–50 µm for balanced stability and shrinkage.

• Contoured or tall containers: 50–60 µm to resist tearing over complex geometries.

Material notes:

• PETG: High shrink ratio and clarity; use moderate air temp with controlled airflow to avoid “blowouts.”

• PVC: Shrinks at lower temps; good for neck bands; monitor for haze if overheated.

• OPS: Good stability; needs even heat and slightly longer dwell.

Line setup workflow:

1. Start with recipe: Select film type/gauge and container height; load the closest saved profile.

2. Set dwell time via conveyor speed: Begin slower (longer dwell), then increase speed until shrink is smooth with no distortion.

3. Balance temperature & airflow: Raise the temperature to improve shrink; raise the airflow to tighten around contours. Adjust one variable at a time.

4. Tune nozzles: Aim 360° slots at label high-shrink zones (shoulders, base).

5. Validate: Check seams, perforations, and tamper bands; confirm no scuffing or label creep after cooling.

Quick targets (starting points; fine-tune on product):

• Neck bands: short dwell, lower temp, focused airflow at the band.

• Full sleeves: moderate dwell, balanced temp/airflow, with extra attention at shoulder/base transitions.

Maintenance Tips for Hot-Air Tunnels

Daily

• Inspect nozzle slots for debris; wipe exterior surfaces after cool-down.

• Verify curtains/brush seals are intact and seated to maintain chamber efficiency.

• Confirm airflow and temperature readings match the recipe; test E-stop.

Weekly

• Check fasteners, clamps, and ducting; tighten if needed.

• Inspect conveyor clearance and bottle guides for rub points.

• Clean inlet screens on blowers; confirm smooth nozzle adjustment.

Monthly

• Inspect wiring and connectors for heat fatigue; verify strain reliefs.

• Check blower bearings per manufacturer guidance; listen for noise/vibration.

• Review and back up HMI/PLC recipes; document any parameter changes.

Safety Guidelines and Troubleshooting

Safety

• Hot surfaces: Allow full cool-down before service; use heat-rated gloves and sleeves.

• Lockout/Tagout: De-energize before opening panels or removing guards.

• Airflow caution: Keep hands, film tails, and loose clothing away from nozzle outlets.

• Ventilation: Operate in a well-ventilated area; follow facility heat-load guidelines.

Troubleshooting (common issues)

• Wrinkles / “orange peel”: Air temp too low or dwell too short → increase dwell (slow conveyor) or raise temp incrementally.

• Fish-eyes / voids: Airflow too strong or film overheated → reduce airflow or lower temp; re-aim nozzles away from thin sections.

• Label creep / rotation: Excessive airflow or bottle instability → reduce airflow; improve container guides or spacing.

• Tearing at shoulders / base: Gauge too light or heat too concentrated → step up film gauge or diffuse nozzle focus; lower temp slightly.

• Incomplete shrink at bottom edge: Dwell too short or nozzle misaligned → slow conveyor; angle lower nozzles toward the base.

• Haze / gloss loss (PVC): Overheating → reduce temp and/or dwell; verify balanced airflow.